Two plead not guilty to drug charges

Two men arrested on Interstate 40 by an Arkansas State Police trooper pleaded not guilty to drug charges on Wednesday in Crawford County Circuit Court.

Juan George Garcia, 78, of Las Animas, Colo., and Eduardo Diaz-Garcia, 55, of Hialeah, Fla., are charged with simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, possession of marijuana with purpose to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of methamphetamine and felon in possession of a firearm.

Fort Smith Attorney Andrew Flake entered the not guilty pleas for the men and waived formal arraignment before Circuit Judge Gary R. Cottrell.

The men were arrested Feb. 22 after Trooper Christopher Short stopped a motorhome for driving too close in foggy weather.

After consent to search was denied, Trooper Michael Bowman’s drug dog alerted to the vehicle and a search found two suitcases containing about 14 pounds of suspected marijuana under a bed.

Other pleas heard Wednesday by Cottrell were:

• Donald Paul Bullington, 24, of Fort Smith pleaded not guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia and second-degree criminal impersonation. He was arrested Feb. 17 by a sheriff’s deputy who was doing a welfare check on a man walking along Kibler Road. Bullington also pleaded not guilty to failure to appear at a March 1 arraignment on the charges.

• Katlynn Elaine Barnes, 23, of Van Buren pleaded not guilty to simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, possession of marijuana with purpose to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of methamphetamine and felon in possession of a firearm. Barnes was arrested March 7 following a traffic stop by a sheriff’s deputy.

• James Preston Wesley Lemly, 24, of Bryant, Ark., pleaded not guilty to possession of methamphetamine and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia. Lemly was arrested March 7 following a traffic stop by a sheriff’s deputy.

• Candace Michelaine Stanley, 23, of Fort Smith pleaded not guilty to simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, theft by receiving - firearm and possession of methamphetamine. Stanley was arrested March 7 following a traffic stop by a sheriff’s deputy.

• Raphael Nathan Salazar, 36, of Ozark pleaded not guilty to second-degree attempted battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest and first-degree assault. Salazar allegedly fought with two deputies who were investigating a burglary in progress.

• Justin Lee Hickey, 34, of Van Buren pleaded not guilty to residential burglary, three counts of theft of property - firearm, felon in possession of a firearm and habitual offender. He was arrested March 5 after a sheriff’s deputy was given permission by a homeowner to search a residence for stolen items. Hickey also resisted a petition to revoke a sentence he received April 20, 2012, for theft of property, alleging he has failed to pay restitution.

• Aira Sue Lynn Marlette, 23, of Mountainburg pleaded not guilty to first-degree criminal mischief. Marlette is accused of covering the walls, doors, baseboards and carpet of an Alma apartment with hair dye on March 2.

• Christopher Michael Elders, 38, of St. Louis pleaded not guilty to failing to register as a sex offender. Elders was allegedly living at a Lafayette Street residence Feb. 28 without notifying Van Buren police.

• Susan Kay Harris, 40, of Van Buren pleaded not guilty to possession of hydrocodone. Harris was arrested March 2 by a Van Buren police officer who went to a North 37th Street residence to serve an outstanding warrant.

• Timothy Wayne Bass, 43, of Fort Smith pleaded not guilty to three counts of second-degree forgery and theft of property. Bass is accused of depositing fraudulent checks into an account at Centennial Bank in Van Buren.

• Melvin Ray Jones, 64, of Van Buren pleaded not guilty to possession of methamphetamine, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and habitual offender. Jones was arrested March 6 following a traffic stop on Oak Grove Road by a sheriff’s deputy.

• April Nicole McCord, 30, of Alma pleaded not guilty to failure to appear at a Feb. 10 hearing on charges of obstructing governmental operations, resisting arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance.

• Tyler Preston Nixon, 23, of Fort Smith pleaded not guilty to failure to appear at a Feb. 10 hearing on charges of drug fraud and possession of a controlled substance.

• Jonathan Joseph Vahldick, 27, of Van Buren pleaded not guilty to failure to appear at a June 13, 2016, hearing on charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, manufacture of methamphetamine/cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and manufacture of a controlled substance.

• Matthew Ray Mizell, 38, of Van Buren resisted a petition to revoke a sentence he received Nov. 14, 2016, for theft by receiving, alleging he has failed to perform community service.

• Justin Clay Bowles, 37, of Winslow resisted a petition to revoke a sentence he received May 16, 2016, for second-degree forgery, theft of property, theft of services and failure to appear, alleging he has failed to pay restitution.

• Anna Elaine Bradford, 32, of Paris resisted a petition to revoke a sentence she received Sept. 18, 2015, for failure to appear and unlawful transfer of stolen property to a pawn shop or broker, alleging she has failed to pay restitution, fines and court costs.

• Jared Lee White, 23, of Wister resisted a petition to revoke a sentence he received May 27, 2015, for knowingly furnishing or selling alcohol to a minor and furnishing alcoholic beverages to a minor, alleging he was arrested March 16, 2016, for theft of property, theft by receiving and first-degree criminal mischief.

• Amy Louise Ward, 37, of Independence, Mo., resisted a petition to revoke a sentence she received Sept. 14, 2-15, for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of methamphetamine, alleging she has failed to pay fines and court costs.

• Cameron Wayne Wornkey, 26, of Van Buren resisted a petition to revoke a sentence he received Sept. 12, 2013, for delivery of marijuana, alleging he has failed to pay fines and court costs.

• Leah Autumn Flanagan, 28, of Fort Smith resisted a petition to revoke a sentence she received Dec. 2, 2010, for theft by receiving, theft of property and failure to appear, alleging she has failed to pay restitution, fines and court costs.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.